Infectious diseases are among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic is harming hundreds of millions of people and disrupting societies. Immunisation is one of our strongest weapons against infectious diseases. Monitoring behavioural, economic and social factors impacting on vaccination acceptance, and reducing barriers to vaccination, remains a priority. Where vaccines are not yet available, non-pharmaceutical interventions are a mainstay of epidemic control. Infection control protects our healthcare workers from infection.
Our research and teaching improve the control of vaccine-preventable and other infectious and communicable diseases in human populations. We’re motivated by the desire to provide evidence to support decisions that will protect us from infectious diseases.
Our goals
Our research and teaching supports evidence-based policy, community engagement and advocacy for modern infectious disease control. Our research-informed teaching is supported by educators with experience in real-world epidemic surveillance and response, infectious disease modelling, vaccine research, epidemiology, and social science. This means our students and postgraduate research candidates are ready to make a meaningful contribution to the detection of, and response to, infectious disease threats.
Research strengths
- Vaccine effectiveness
- Vaccine uptake and attitudes
- Epidemiological modelling
- Infection control
- Economic evaluation
- Epidemic control decision support
- Traveller infections
- Epidemiology of infectious diseases
- Burden of acute respiratory infections
- Epidemiological modelling to support decision making around vaccines and drugs
Our impact
Our researchers are providing evidence for improving vaccine delivery and uptake among vulnerable global and local communities, supporting epidemic and pandemic control decisions, building regional capacity for health security. We work with the Australian and international government health departments and the World Health Organization to support local and global responses for infectious diseases, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our experts
View Profile
Innovation & impact
Our teaching
We pride ourselves on the nexus of our teaching and research. We do this in partnership with communities, centres and institutes, health services and people with lived experience and expertise.
Our research & impact
Our research and impact promotes equity, strengthens health systems and improves access to high quality care for all people in Australia and worldwide.
Our strategy
Our Health 25 Strategy aims to improve the quality of life for all by tackling the complex and important health challenges of our times.
Ending COVID lockdown by targeting transmission with vaccination
In late July 2021, for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, was facing the gradual failure of lockdown and contact tracing to contain the growing wave of infections resulting from the Delta variant of the virus.
Support COVID-19 communication with Linguistically Diverse Communities
Associate Professor Holly Seale, infectious disease social scientist at the School of Population Health, has conducted research and community engagement activities to help Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic response with a focus on communication efforts with CaLD communities.